Propagating and presenting user specific information
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a first output device located within a materials handling facility;
a second output device adjacent the first output device;
a first output device controller connected to and controlling the first output device;
a computing system including;
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;
identify a user located at the materials handling facility;
determine a user location of the user within the materials handling facility;
select user specific information corresponding to the user based at least in part on the identity of the user;
determine a direction of movement of the user within the materials handling facility; and
based at least in part on the user location and the direction of movement of the user within the materials handling facility;
select the first output device;
determine a first count, based on the direction of movement, indicating a first number of output devices in the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated;
determine a second count, based on the direction of movement, indicating a second number of output devices in a second direction that is different than the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated;
generate a propagation instruction indicating at least the first count, the second count, and the direction of movement;
transmit the user specific information to the first output device controller connected to and controlling the first output device;
transmit a control instruction to the first output device controller, the control instruction specifying at least one action to be performed with respect to the user specific information; and
transmit the propagation instruction to the first output device controller, wherein the propagation instruction instructs the first output device controller to propagate at least the user specific information from the first output device controller directly to a second output device controller in communication with the first output device controller and a third output device controller in communication with the first output device controller, wherein;
the second output device controller;
controls the second output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the direction of movement;
upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the first count;
after decrementing the first count, determines that the first count is positive; and
in response to determining that the first count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fourth output device controller that controls a fourth output device that is in the direction of movement; and
the third output device controller;
controls a third output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the second direction;
upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the second count;
after decrementing the second count, determines that the second count is positive; and
in response to determining that the second count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fifth output device controller that controls a fifth output device that is in the second direction.
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Abstract
Described is a system and method for propagating and synchronizing the presentation of user specific information across multiple output devices. In some implementations, a location of a user is determined and user specific information is provided to a plurality of output device controllers configured to control output devices at the determined location. Control instructions are also provided instructing the output device controllers to store, render, present and/or remove the user specific information.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a first output device located within a materials handling facility; a second output device adjacent the first output device; a first output device controller connected to and controlling the first output device; a computing system including; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; identify a user located at the materials handling facility; determine a user location of the user within the materials handling facility; select user specific information corresponding to the user based at least in part on the identity of the user; determine a direction of movement of the user within the materials handling facility; and based at least in part on the user location and the direction of movement of the user within the materials handling facility; select the first output device; determine a first count, based on the direction of movement, indicating a first number of output devices in the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; determine a second count, based on the direction of movement, indicating a second number of output devices in a second direction that is different than the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; generate a propagation instruction indicating at least the first count, the second count, and the direction of movement; transmit the user specific information to the first output device controller connected to and controlling the first output device; transmit a control instruction to the first output device controller, the control instruction specifying at least one action to be performed with respect to the user specific information; and transmit the propagation instruction to the first output device controller, wherein the propagation instruction instructs the first output device controller to propagate at least the user specific information from the first output device controller directly to a second output device controller in communication with the first output device controller and a third output device controller in communication with the first output device controller, wherein;
the second output device controller;
controls the second output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the direction of movement;
upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the first count;
after decrementing the first count, determines that the first count is positive; and
in response to determining that the first count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fourth output device controller that controls a fourth output device that is in the direction of movement; and
the third output device controller;
controls a third output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the second direction;
upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the second count;
after decrementing the second count, determines that the second count is positive; and
in response to determining that the second count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fifth output device controller that controls a fifth output device that is in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method for presenting user specific information, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining a user location of a user within a materials handling facility; determining a direction of movement of the user within the materials handling facility; selecting user specific information for presentation to the user; determining a first output device located within the materials handling facility; determining, based on the direction of movement of the user, a first count indicating a number of output devices in the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; determining, based on the direction of movement of the user, a second count indicating a second number of output devices in a second direction that is different than the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; generating a propagation instruction indicating at least the first count, the second count, and the direction of movement; transmitting the user specific information to a first output device controller configured to control the first output device; and transmitting the propagation instruction to the first output device controller, wherein the propagation instruction indicates the first count and the direction of movement and includes instructions for the first output device controller to propagate the user specific information from the first output device controller directly to a second output device controller and to a third output device controller, wherein; the second output device controller; controls a second output device that is adjacent the first output device in the direction of movement; upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the first count; after decrementing the first count, determines that the first count is positive; and in response to determining that the first count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fourth output device controller that controls a fourth output device that is in the direction of movement; and the third output device controller; controls a third output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the second direction; upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the second count; after decrementing the second count, determines that the second count is positive; and in response to determining that the second count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fifth output device controller that controls a fifth output device that is in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first output device controller configured to control a first output device; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; receive user specific information corresponding to a user located within a materials handling facility; determine a direction of movement of the user within the materials handling facility; receive a control instruction, wherein the control instruction specifies an action to be performed by the first output device controller with respect to the user specific information; determine, based at least in part on the direction of movement of the user, a first count indicating a number of output devices in the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; determine, based on the direction of movement of the user, a second count indicating a second number of output devices in a second direction that is different than the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; generate a propagation instruction indicating at least the first count, the second count, and the direction of movement; transmit the propagation instruction to the first output device controller, wherein the propagation instruction includes instructions to propagate the user specific information from the first output device controller directly to a second output device controller and directly to a third output device controller;
wherein;the second output device controller; controls a second output device that is adjacent the first output device and in the direction of movement; upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the first count; after decrementing the first count, determines that the first count is positive; and propagates the user specific information to a fourth output device controller that controls a fourth output device that is in the direction of movement; and the third output device controller; controls a third output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the second direction; upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the second count; after decrementing the second count, determines that the second count is zero; and in response to determining that the second count is zero, does not propagate the user specific information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A presentation system, comprising:
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a first output device; a second output device; a third output device; a first output device controller in communication with and controlling the first output device; a second output device controller in communication with and controlling the second output device; a third output device controller in communication with and controlling the third output device; an inventory management system in communication with the first output device controller, the inventory management system configured to at least; select user specific information corresponding to a user located within a materials handling facility; determine a direction of movement of the user; based at least in part on the direction of movement; generate first control instruction instructing the first output device controller to present the user specific information on the first output device; determine a first count indicating a number of output devices in the direction of movement to which the user specific information is to be propagated; determine, based on the direction of movement of the user, a second count indicating a second number of output devices in a second direction that is different than the direction of movement of the user to which the user specific information is to be propagated; generate a propagation instruction indicating at least the first count, the second count, and the direction of movement; and send the first control instruction, the user specific information, and the propagation instruction to the first output device controller, wherein the propagation instruction includes instructions for the first output device controller to propagate at least the user specific information from the first output device controller directly to the second output device controller and directly to the third output device controller, wherein; the second output device controller; controls the second output device which is adjacent the first output device in the direction of movement; upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the first count; after decrementing the first count, determines that the first count is positive; and in response to determining that the first count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fourth output device controller that controls a fourth output device that is in the direction of movement; and the third output device controller; controls the third output device which is adjacent the first output device and in the second direction; upon receipt of the user specific information, decrements the second count; after decrementing the second count, determines that the second count is positive; and in response to determining that the second count is positive, propagates the user specific information to a fifth output device controller that controls a fifth output device that is in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification